Synthomer posts lower profits and sales on weak economy

12:52 PM MST | February 28, 2014 | Ian Young

Specialty aqueous polymers producer Synthomer (Harlow, UK), formerly known as Yule Catto, reported a 5% decline in pretax profit for full-year 2013, to £90 million on sales also down 5%, to £1.05 billion. Full-year operating profit decreased 6%, to £105 million. The company says that its business in Europe and North America was hurt by continued weak economic conditions but that underlying operating profit grew 21% in Asia and the rest of the world. Fourth-quarter figures were not disclosed. Synthomer commissioned 70,000 m.t./year of nitrile...